Apparatus for feeding of pin-shaped bodies with a one-sided center of gravity



Feb. 18, 1958 A. KREIDLER 2,823,830 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OF PIN-SHAPED BODIES WITH A ONE-SIDED CENTER OF GRAVITY Filed. June 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Shae; l

Feb. 18, 1958 A. KREIDLER 2,823,830

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING OF PIN-SHAPED BODIES WITH A ONEFSIDED CENTER OF GRAVITY Filed June 3. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFRED KREIDLER ATTORNEY United States Patent APrARATUs FOR FEEDING F PIN-SHAPED somns WITH A ONE-SIDED CENTER or GRAVITY Alfred Kreidler, Stuttgart, Germany Application .lune 3, 1952, Serial No. 291,374 Claims priority, application Germany June 5, 1951 3 Claims. ((31. 221-171 This invention concerns a means for arranging pinshaped bodies having an unsymmetrical center of gravity.

It is already known to use an inclined plane having an aperture therein for arranging pin-shaped bodies having an unsymmetrical center of gravity, such as nails. The bodies which slide down heavier end first fall in this position through the aperture into a further sliding guide which conveys them to where they are required for use or to a packing station. The bodies which come down with their lighter end first shoot across the aperture and are segregated or sent back over the slide. In another known arrangement the bodies are moved so slowly on the slide by accompanying guiding members that they all drop through the aperture with the heavier end first. Other devices again have special stops, return guides, deflecting means or the like in order to direct all the bodies in the right position.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a method of arranging pin-shaped bodies having an unsymmetrical center of gravity which method is distinguished by extreme simplicity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for feeding of pin-shaped bodies with a onesided center of gravity which includes an inclined plane for the directing of said pin-shaped bodies with an unsymmetrical center of gravity and a correspondingly larger end, especially headed screws, and which has such an incline and length that the bodies, preferably placed on it in a transverse position to the inclination of the plane, swing out freely in their motion along the same into a position with the heavier end (with screws with the head end) downwards. The reliability of the proposed apparatus is increased if steps are taken in addition to accelerate the longitudinal motion of the bodies over the linclined plane from a slow motion at the be ginning of the swinging out to a fast one at the end of the swinging out. This can be done by exposing the individual bodies in their motion over the plane to a current, preferably increasing, of a liquid or gaseous conveying means. The swinging out can also be accelerated and their stopping on the surface prevented if the bodies are jolted in their path over the plane.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for feeding of pin-shaped bodies with a one-sided center of gravity which includes a slide which is preferably used as an inclined plane which is provided with funnel-shaped converging guiding walls standing on it, of which the spaced intervals from one another at the outlet of the slide just exceed the greatest diameter of the bodies.

For certain purposes of use it is of advantage if at the outlet of the slide a tipping device, preferably a conveyor Wheel, is disposed which gives up the bodies arriving with their larger end (head end) first (i. e. headed screws) in, the reverse position i. e. with the light end 2 first, to a further path of conveyance, i. e. a conveyor pipe.

In order to accelerate additionally the longitudinal mo tion of the bodies during the swinging out, the gradient of the slide being used as an inclined plane can increase towards the outlet. It is of advantage if, the slide, serving as an inclined plane, is inclinable on a transverse axis and is tipped backwards and forwards in time with the passage of the individual bodies by suitable control means. The slide and tipping device such as a conveyor wheel may be driven intermittently in synchronism with one another by a pace-changing mechanism or the like.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus with means for supplying an air current to the inclined plate; and

I Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the device indicating an inclined plate having an increased gradient at its outlet zone.

The slide 1 has separating walls 2 standing vertically thereon, which form in the example illustrated two funnel-shaped converging guides-there can be several guides or only onethe outlet 3 of which is so small that it can only admit longitudinally directed headed screws 4 arriving one after the other.

Conveyor wheels 6 and the slide 1 oscillatable about the stationary axis 5 are so driven backwards by a stepby-step switch mechanism that each outlet 3 in its lowest position discharges into a trough of the conveyor wheel 6. The step-by-step switch mechanism contains a driving shaft 8 on which is stationarily fixed a disc 9 to the crank pin 10 of which the push rod 11 is pivoted which with its other end engages the slide 1. Moreover, the shaft 8 carries an eccentric 12 for taking up the switch rod 13 which cooperates with its finger 14, with the switch wheel 15. The switch finger 14 is in the diagrammatic form shown held in engagement With the switch wheel 15 by its weight.

Thus the conveyor wheels 6 and the slide 1 are so coupled together that during the to and fro motion of the slide the conveyor wheel is further rotate-d by one division. A discharge pipe 7 is associated with each of the conveyor wheels 6. The cross section of each pipe 7 is of such size that it allows space for screws arriving separately one behind the other only and prevents their tipping over.

The operation of the whole apparatus described above is as follows:

By rotation of the driving shaft 8 in the direction of the arrow the switch wheel 15 together with conveyor wheel 6 is rotated through one tooth division by means of eccentric 12 and switch rod 13. Simultaneously by means of the crank drive 9-11 the slide 1 is inclined even more steeply, till it assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 after the conveyor wheel 6 has meanwhile come to rest, and the switch rod 13 has started on its back path, in order to introduce a new switch step.

The turning outwards of the headed screws by means of the apparatus described and illustrated in the drawing occurs as follows:

The slide 1 in the backward inclined position receives the headed screws 4 which are preferably arranged or supplied by suitable means in such a way that their longitudinal axis is situated transversely to the direction of the gradient of the slide. The screw then swings out of this transverse position (corresponding to 4a) during its longitudinal motion on the slide 1 into a position in assassin which. its. head endpoints downwards. In order. not to. allow it to come to a stop, the slide 1 meanwhile is tilted forwards until the outlet 3 points to the corresponding trough. of the. conveyor. wheelfi. In. this .waythe. screw.

slips down over the slide and falls through the outlet. 3,

into. the. rough of. the conveyor. wheel 6. which takes it alongand sends it awalshank first into. thedischarge pipe 7 which conveysit to an. assembly point for use.

In addition to. or. instead of the. tipping motion ofthe slide 1, a jolting motion. can be. provided in order to keepthe screws in motiorron the slide. The. slide .1 can alsobe constructed with an increasinggradient. towards the outlet 3,, as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermorethe screws can. be kept in motion on the slide by beingsubjected to an air current orby a jet of water, as shown in Fig. 3. Instead of providing thecraul; drive. 9-11,.any. other means may be provided for operating. the slide. 1, asv for. instance anelectrically operated conventional. vibrator. 18 (Figs. 3 and 4).

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that .these err'i bodirnents are given by example. only and not in a linn iting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims. i

I l im:

1. In art apparatus for feeding pin-shaped bodies, the combination of a plate having a flat upper non'perfo rated face, means supporting said. plate in'inclined poisition,.said plate being of a length many'timesthatof.

said pin;shaped bodies. in order. to permit. of saidbodies to swing outfreely with. their. largerv end downwards dur-.' ing their accelerated downward travel along .said 'inclined plate, means for subjecting said plate to' a reciproeating movement from a lesser inclined position to a greater inclined position within a predeterminedv cycle in order to provide an accelerated feeding movementtfor said bodies, a plurality of walls substantially perpendicular. to and extending Upwardly from the .upperface df the said plate, .each pair. .of said walls converging. .to-.. wards one another in a downward direction andYsub-t stantially for the entire, length of .the said plate to .provide at their lower. endan ,outlet zone for the said bodies fedto the upper portion .of the said plate, the minimum space between each Pair .of said .walls being in the bidder zone for. they said bodies and slightly larger than the diameter of one of said bodies, with a rotatable conveyor device disposed adjacent the said outlet zone of the said walls, the said conveyor device receiving said bodies head first and releasing said bodies head last during its rotating movement, means for rotatably supporting d. wnv ordev c and. means for adv n a conveyordevicefin synchronisrn with said tilting means in such manner that the receiving postition ofsaid conveyor device corresponds with the most inclined pensioner said plate, and. said conveyor. device having a plurality of pockets peripherally spaced apart from each other and receiving successively said pin-shaped bodies head fir t n releasin aid pin-.sh pedbo eshead a t fter performing a rotating moyerner t along a predetermined angls 2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a second conveyor device disposed adjacent said first con eysdevice and 'comprising'a substantially tubular member of s'aismeterlss thari'tha't' of said pinshaped bodies and receiving and feeding the latter head last there'tliroi gh 'by'gravity.

3'. The'apparatu's', as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate has an: increased gradient towards the said outlet zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent p Df SJ'EATES PATENTS ,SLgtOg one 25. 8 J9Q ul van Sent. 8 2 2.8 .3 9; Sull van NQY- .8 .2.6. 53 Risl td Sea 5. 188. 4 .871 en Q t- 1.4. 182.0. 469.324 Bow rs. Heb. 23, 18. 2. 676,761 Morris l ipe 18, 1991 6.6.29! Sppn l Ans- 1.904 884.211 need Ap 7. 1.9.08

2.252. 19 law Ana 12.. 19.41 2,355,311 Linkner a js, 1944 2.3 1.111 L ght Oct. .24, 1944 97. S hnei er M y' 19.5 2,581,042 on 1a 1, 1952 .7101 1 iedman une. 4; 1.9.55 

